Lend Me A Tenor tickets at the Gielgud Theatre in London

Lend Me A Tenor, the musical comedy by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll, is to close early at the Gielgud Theatre in London. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Matthew Kelly in Lend Me A Tenor"][/caption] Based on Ken Ludwig’s award-winning play, the show opened on 15 June but has failed to find an audience and will now close on Saturday 6 August 2011. The producers, Martin Platt and David Elliott, said in a statement that, "Despite mostly wonderful notices from the press, great feedback from our audiences and nightly standing ovations, this has not translated into growing sales and we feel it is in everyone's best interests to close the production on August 6th.” The show stars Matthew Kelly, last seen in the West End in the short-lived production of Sign of the Times at the Duchess Theatre, and Joanna Riding, who previously starred in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, also at the Gielgud, and which also closed early. Other cast include Damian Humbley, Michael Matus, Sophie-Louise Dann and Cassidy Janson, with direction by Ian Talbot. Critics largely enjoyed the show, with Michael Coveney in the Independent saying that, "“Sure, the whole shebang’s a bit of a throwback, but it’s fun and finished to a very high standard", but others, including Nick Curtis in the Standard, found that there was, "a disjunction here between retrogressive comedy and modern musical sentiment, and the result is blandness." The next confirmed production at the Gielgud is not until November, with a stage adaptation of movie classic The Ladykillers. LINKS SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre in London Lend Me A Tenor - Reviews Round-up

LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, the uproarious new musical comedy by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll, based on Ken Ludwig’s award-winning play, which opened at the Gielgud Theatre earlier this summer to some rave reviews, is to close. Despite receiving a series of 4-star reviews and standing ovations, the production’s last performance will be Saturday 6 August. Producers Martin Platt and David Elliott said, "We wish to thank the extremely dedicated cast of LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, author Peter Sham and composer Brad Carroll and everyone who has taken part in the project. Despite mostly wonderful notices from the press, great feedback from our audiences and nightly standing ovations, this has not translated into growing sales and we feel it is in everyone's best interests to close the production on August 6th.” Lend Me A Tenor The Musical stars Matthew Kelly as ‘Henry Saunders’, Joanna Riding as ‘Maria Merelli’, Damian Humbley as ‘Max’, Michael Matus as ‘Tito Merelli, Sophie-Louise Dann as ‘Diana Divane’, Cassidy Janson as ‘Maggie Saunders’, and Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop as the ‘Ladies of the Opera Guild’. The production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner. The production is designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Tim Mitchell, and sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster. The Musical Supervisor is Tony Award Winner Paul Gemignani, the Musical Director is Colin Billing, and orchestrations are by Chris Walker. LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott and Eileen & Allen Anes with Jason E. Grossman and M. Kilburg Reedy. Release issued by: Target Live LINKS SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre in London Lend Me A Tenor - Reviews Round-up

In a rather random PR stunt that only the West End could have got away with, the inaugural West End Tug of War contest took place this week between cast members of the Gielgud and Queen's Theatres. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Matthew Kelly and the cast of Lend Me A Tenor pick up the winning trophy"][/caption] The stage doors of the two theatres both empty out on to Winnett Street, and so battle commenced on the street between the Gielgud's Lend Me A Tenor cast and the Queen's Les Miserables during the break between their matinee and evening performances on Wednesday 13 July. The Gielgud's Lend Me A Tenor had originally challenged the Queen's Les Miserables to the Tug of War, and after a best-of-three it was the Tenors who took the prize, with Matthew Kelly accepting the trophy on behalf of the Tenors. The Tug of War was said to bring back happy memories of the annual Society of West End Theatre (now SOLT) West End bed race in Leicester Square. Could the Tug of War become an equally big event? LINKS Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre

West End Live 2011 photos including Lee Mead in Legally Blonde The Musical and Matthew Kelly in Lend Me A Tenor. LINKS More News on West End Live View West End Live photos of Rock of Ages and Betty Blue Eyes View West End Live photos of The Wizard of Oz and Crazy For You View West End Live photos of Ghost The Musical, Wicked and Jersey Boys Book tickets to Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre  

A round-up of reviews of Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre starring Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre"][/caption] Lend Me A Tenor is the new musical comedy directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas). The show features mistaken identities and unexpected romance and is based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig. Lend Me A Tenor stars Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding alongside Damian Humbley, Michael Matus, Sophie-Louise Dann, Cassidy Janson, Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop. See a round-up of Lend Me A Tenor reviews, below. LINKS SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre in London

Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding star in Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre in London. Lend Me A Tenor is the uproarious new musical comedy which is currently running at the Gielgud Theatre. The hilarious show features mistaken identities and unexpected romance and is based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig. The multi-talented cast stars award-winning actors Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding alongside Damian Humbley, Michael Matus, Sophie-Louise Dann, Cassidy Janson, Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop. It’s 1934, and the world’s greatest tenor Tito Merelli has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Verdi’s Otello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement. Chaos ensues – including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department. The company also features Jemma Alexander, Karen Aspinall, Natasha J. Barnes, Nick Butcher, Kelly Chinery, Sharon Eckman, Daniel Farrow, Andrew Keelan, Kara Lane, Connor McAllister, Haydn Oakley, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Ryan Pidgen, Jeremy Secomb, Emma Sewell, John Stacey, Robert Traynor, and Michelle White. This brand-new production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas). LINKS SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor More News on Lend Me A Tenor

What's opening in the West End this week including Dominic West in Butley, David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Much Ado About Nothing and Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding in Lend Me A Tenor. NEW SHOWS 30 MAY to 5 JUNE 2011 [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Dominic West stars in Butley at the Duchess Theatre[/caption] On Wednesday 1 June Much Ado About Nothing gets its official opening night at the Wyndham's Theatre. David Tennant and Catherine Tate star as Beatrice and Benedick in this high-profile new production directed by Josie Rourke. Also on Wednesday, Dominic West (The Wire) returns to the West End as previews start for Simon Gray's savage, witty and remarkable play Butley at the Duchess Theatre, directed by Lindsay Posner and also starring Paul McGann. Also starting previews this week is Lend Me A Tenor on Thursday 2 June at the Gielgud Theatre in London. Ian Talbot directs this fun new musical comedy by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll, based on the Broadway classic and starring Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding. OPENING NEXT WEEK The Royal Court's revival of Arnold Wesker's Chicken Soup With Barley opens, starring Samantha Spiro and directed by Dominic Cooke (Press night 7 June). The Donmar Warehouse production of Schiller's Luise Miller directed by Michael Grandage and starring Alex Kingston, Felicity Jones, Finty Williams, Max Bennett and David Dawson (Previews from 8 June). Friday 10 June marks the centenary of British playwright Terence Rattigan and on the following day, Saturday 11 June, two of his classic plays, Cause Celebre at the Old Vic and Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, both close in the West End. Finally, Sunday 12 June sees this year's Tony Awards announced. A big, glitzy ceremony is planned with Danielle Radcliffe, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Vanessa Redgrave handing out gongs and the Royal Court's Jerusalem and National Theatre's War Horse in line for multiple awards. AND OPENING LATER IN JUNE [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Amanda Holden stars in Shrek the Musical[/caption] The Flying Karamazov Brothers come crashing into the Vaudeville Theatre with much kilt wearing, flame throwing and general madcap hysteria (from 9 June); Shrek The Musical has its press night at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane starring Amanda Holden and Nigel Lindsay (14 June); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead starring featuring Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker at the Theatre Royal Haymarket (from 16 June); Kristin Soctt Thomas leads the cast in previews of Harold Pinter's Betrayal at the Comedy Theatre, in a new production directed by Ian Rickson, also starring Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles (Press night 16 June); The Royal Ballet's sumptuous and large-scale production of Romeo and Juliet comes to the O2 Arena (from 17 June); Kevin Spacey as Richard III in Sam Mendes’s new production of Shakespeare’s play at the Old Vic (from 18 June); The Railway Children comes steaming back into the Waterlook Station Theatre for a summer run (from 19 June); and a big-budget new movie-to-stage musical comes to town as Ghost The Musical opens at the Piccadilly Theatre starring Caissie Levy, Richard Fleeshman and Sharon D Clarke, with music by Dave Stewart (from 22 June). Also don't forget that West End Live - the West End's free weekend festival - comes to Trafalgar Square for the first time this year on 18 and 19 June, promising star turns from many of the West End's biggest shows. LINKS Book tickets to West End shows

The full cast has been announced for the West End production of LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, the uproarious new musical comedy by Peter Sham (book and lyrics) and Brad Carroll (music), which opens at the Gielgud Theatre on 15 June, with previews from 2 June. Matthew Kelly will star as ‘Henry Saunders’ (Executive Director of the Cleveland Grand Opera), Joanna Riding will star as ‘Maria Marelli’, Damian Humbley will star as ‘Max’ (Henry Saunders’ assistant, and the opera prompter), Michael Matus will star as ‘Tito Merelli, (the Great Italian tenor known as 'Il Stupendo'), Sophie-Louise Dann will star as ‘Diana Divane’ (Prima Donna of the Cleveland Grand Opera), Cassidy Janson will star as ‘Maggie Saunders’ (Henry Saunders’ daughter), and Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop will star as the ‘Ladies of the Opera Guild’. It’s 1934, and the world’s greatest tenor Tito Merelli has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Verdi’s Otello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement. Chaos ensues - including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department. LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is a riotous, unpredictable explosion of mistaken identities and unexpected romance - based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig. The company also features Jemma Alexander, Karen Aspinall, Natasha J. Barnes, Nick Butcher, Kelly Chinery, Sharon Eckman, Daniel Farrow, Andrew Keelan, Kara Lane, Connor McAllister, Haydn Oakley, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Ryan Pidgen, Jeremy Secomb, Emma Sewell, John Stacey, Robert Traynor, and Michelle White. This brand-new production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas). The production is designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Tim Mitchell, and sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster. The Musical Supervisor is Tony Award Winner Paul Gemignani, the Musical Director is Colin Billing, and orchestrations are by Chris Walker. LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott and Eileen & Allen Anes. Release issued by: Target Live LINKS More news on Lend Me A Tenor

Following a critically acclaimed run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in 2010, LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, the uproarious new musical comedy by Peter Sham (book and lyrics) and Brad Carroll (music), will open at the Gielgud Theatre on 15 June, with previews from 2 June. It’s 1934, and the world’s greatest tenor Tito Merelli has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Verdi’s Otello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement. Chaos ensues - including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department. LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is a riotous, unpredictable explosion of mistaken identities and unexpected romance - based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig. Matthew Kelly will star as ‘Henry Saunders’ (Executive Director of the Cleveland Grand Opera), Damian Humbley will star as ‘Max’ (Henry Saunders’ assistant, and the opera prompter), Michael Matus will star as ‘Tito Merelli, ‘Il Stupendo’ (the great Italian tenor), and Sophie-Louise Dann will star as ‘Diana Divane’ (Prima Donna of the Cleveland Grand Opera). Further casting will be announced. This brand-new production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas). The production is designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Tim Mitchell, and sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster. The Musical Supervisor is Tony Award Winner Paul Gemignani and the Musical Director is Colin Billing. LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott, in association with Eileen & Allen Anes. Release issued by: Target Live LINKS Sign up to hear about booking and tickets to Lend Me A Tenor